“How was work?” she asked. “Anything interesting happen?”
The image of the handsome, equally dangerous man flashed through my mind, reminding me of our brief encounter at Josie’s. Maybe I had overstepped by correcting him in front of his associates about the painting. I couldn’t tell whether he was pleased or angry because his expression never changed, not even for a split second.
I later learned from Damon and James that those men were in the mafia—Russian Bratva—and that was why everyone was so afraid of them. Yes, they looked the part: deadly, cold, and monstrous. But when I served them at their table, I realized they weren’t as terrible as people thought they were.
My mind flashed back to that one man with the coldest stare at the table. Tall, muscular, handsome, and dangerously attractive. I’d caught his eyes more times than I could count, and for every glance, something stirred up within me.
“Earth to Carter.” Eva snapped her fingers in my face. “Hello? Are you still with me?”
I blinked back to reality. “Yeah, sorry, I uh….” My voice trailed off into silence.
She tilted her head to the side, a glint of suspicion creeping into her face. “Wait a minute, did you meet someone?” Her excitement couldn’t be any more glaring.
“What? Why would you think that?” I asked, my tone defensive.
“Because you zoned out right after I asked if anything interesting happened at work.” She sat up and faced me, her gaze unwavering.
“That’s…that’s ridiculous.” I blew a raspberry.
Her eyes lit up with mirth. “Damn, you did meet someone interesting.” She cackled.
“No, I did not.” I cleared my throat and glanced away.
“Yes, you did.” Her smile widened. “You’re doing that thing you do when you’re lying; you avoid eye contact and touch your nose.”
I paused with my finger on my nose—caught right in the act.
“Now, spill.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“God, you’re so stubborn!” She let out a frustrated groan. “You do realize you’re 22 years old and allowed to spread your legs—I mean, your wings.”
My brows knitted together. “I see what you did there, you little devil.”
She laughed. “But seriously, Lettie, you’re now officially a college graduate. You need to stop letting life slip through your fingers. Live a little, for Christ’s sake!”
“But Iamliving.”
“No, you’re existing,” she answered. “There’s a difference.”
I exhaled sharply and leaned back on the couch. “I’m that boring, huh?”
“Yes, you are,” she replied sternly.
“Jesus, you didn’t have to be blunt about it,” I said, shooting her a quick look.
“I’m sorry, but as your friend, it is my duty to tell you the truth—regardless of your feelings.”
I groaned, slapping my palms over my face.
“Lettie, you’re so caught up with work that you forget to stop and smell the roses sometimes,” she added, her voice calmer and much more soothing.
“Work is what pays the bills, Eva,” I said.
“Is that the kind of life you wanna live—detached from the rest of the world?”
I paused for a moment, looking right at her. “It’s not as bad as it seems, trust me.”
